Multipurpose exercising machine

ABSTRACT

A multipurpose exercising machine for exercising the muscles of the arms, legs and abdomen includes a machine base, a seat pad mounted on the machine base, a back pad pivoted to the machine base behind the seat pad and forwardly backwardly turnable relative to the machine base and positionable at a predetermined angle, a pedal unit mounted on the machine base in front of the seat pad, the pedal unit having two pedals for pedaling by the user, and a chest and back developer grip unit detachably mounted on the machine base behind the seat pad. The chest and back developer grip unit has two operation arms for pulling by the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to physical exercisers and, moreparticularly, to a multipurpose exercising machine, which providesmultiple operation modes including arm and chest exercise, front-bend,pedaling exercise, and etc.

2. Description of the Related Art

Various exercising machines have been developed, and have appeared onthe market. These exercising machines commonly provide only oneoperation mode for exercising the muscles of a specific part of thebody. Due to one single operation mode, the user becomes tired ofoperating the exercising machine within a short time. Nowadays, the newdesign concept is to provide a universal gym that provides multipleoperation modes for exercising the muscles of different parts of thebody. Because a universal gym allows the user to frequently change theoperation mode, it greatly increases the user's willing of using themachine to exercise the muscles of the body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVNEION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances inview. It is the main object of the present invention to provide amultipurpose exercising machine, which is practical for exercising themuscles of the arms, abdomen and legs.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a multipurposeexercising machine, which allows the user to change the operationposition.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide amultipurpose exercising machine, which has a detachable individualexercising unit that is highly mobile.

To achieve these objects of the present invention, the multipurposeexercising machine comprises a machine base; a seat pad mounted on themachine base; a back pad pivoted to the machine base behind the seat padand forwardly backwardly turnable relative to the machine base andpositionable at a predetermined angle; a pedal unit mounted on themachine base in front of the seat pad; and a chest and back developergrip unit having an open frame detachably mounted on the machine basebehind the seat pad, two swivel connectors respectively pivoted to theopen frame at two sides and selectively set between a first position anda second position, two operation handles respectively pivoted to theswivel connectors, the operation handles being moved to a verticalposition when the swivel connectors set in the first position, theoperation handles being moved to a horizontal position when the swivelconnectors set in the second position, and a plurality of elastomericmembers symmetrically bilaterally connected between the handles and theopen frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a multipurpose exercising machine according tothe first embodiment of the present invention, showing the chest andback developer grip unit installed and the back pad set in horizontal.

FIG. 2 is another side view of the first embodiment of the presentinvention, showing the chest and back developer grip unit removed fromthe machine base and the back pad set in vertical.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view in an enlarged scale of a part of the firstembodiment of the present invention, showing the connection between thesupporting bar and one locating pin at the adjustment rack.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the first embodiment of the presentinvention, showing adjustment of the retractable rack and the chest andback developer grip unit.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a part of the first embodiment of the presentinvention, showing the handles of the chest and back developer grip unitset in the vertical position.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 but showing the handles of the chest andback developer grip unit set in the horizontal position.

FIG. 7 shows one operation mode of the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 shows another operation mode of the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 shows still another operation mode of the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 shows still another operation mode of the first embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 11 shows still another operation mode of the first embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a multipurpose exercising machine according tothe second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a multipurpose exercising machine according tothe third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a multipurpose exercising machine 10 inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is showncomprising a machine base 20, a seat pad 30, a back pad 40, a pedal unit50, a chest and back developer grip unit 60, and two elastic cordmembers 70.

The machine base 20 is horizontally positioned on the floor, comprisinga main frame 21, a leg extension bar 22 disposed at the front side ofthe main frame 21, a mounting tube 23 disposed at the back side of themain frame 21, a retractable rack 24 forwardly movably extended from themain frame 21, an adjustment rack 25 extended from the back side of themain frame 21, and a lock screw 26 adapted to control adjustment of thepitch between the main frame 21 and the retractable rack 24. Further,the adjustment rack 25 comprises a plurality of upright locating pins 27arranged in a line.

The seat pad 30 is mounted on the main frame 21 of the machine base 20between the leg extension bar 22 and the mounting tube 23. The top sideof the seat pad 30 is disposed at an elevation relatively higher thanthe top end of the mounting tube 23 for the sitting of the user.

The back pad 40 is pivoted to the main frame 21 of the machine base 20behind the seat pad 30 and the mounting tube 23 for supporting tosupport the user's back and can be biased forwards and backwards, havinga supporting bar 41 disposed at the back side. The supporting bar 41 hasone end pivoted to the back side of the back pad 40, and the other endprovided with a locating hole 42 (see FIG. 3). By means of selectivelycoupling the locating hole 42 to one of the upright locating pins 27,the back pad 40 is locked to the adjustment rack 25 at one of a seriesof angles.

The pedal unit 50 is of the known design mounted on the retractable rack24 of the machine base 20, comprising two pedals 51 for pedaling by theuser. The pedals 51 can be of the design similar to the pedals of aclimber for stepping, or the design similar to the pedals of a bicyclefor pedaling.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the chest and back developer grip unit 60 iscomprised of an open frame 61, a mounting bar 62, two swivel connectors63, two operation handles 64, two elastomeric members 65, a cushion 66,a lock screw 68, and two shoulder straps 69. The open frame 61 has arectangular profile. The cushion 66 is mounted on the open frame 61 andadapted to support the user's back. The mounting bar 62 is a rectangularbar having a plurality of mounting holes 67 longitudinally aligned in aline. One end of the mounting bar 62 is fixedly connected to the openframe 61. The other end of the mounting bar 62 is detachably insertedinto the mounting tube 23 and locked by the lock screw 68. The lockscrew 68 is provided at the mounting tube 23 and selectively threadedinto one of the mounting holes 67 to lock the mounting bar 62 to themounting tube 23 at one of a series of vertically spaced positions. Theswivel connectors 63 are bilaterally provided at the back side of theopen frame 61, each having one end pivoted to the open frame 61 near thetop and the other end respectively detachably locked to the two oppositelongitudinal sides of the open frame 61 in the first position (see FIG.5) or the transverse top side of the open frame 61 in the secondposition (see FIG. 6) by a respective lock screw 631. The operationhandles 64 are respectively pivoted to the swivel connectors 63, and canbe turned with the swivel connectors 63 between a vertical position (seeFIG. 5; where the swivel connectors 63 are respectively moved to thefirst position) and a horizontal position (see FIG. 6; where the swivelconnectors 63 are respectively moved to the second position). Theelastomeric members 65 are rubber blocks respectively connected betweenthe operation handles 64 and the open frame 61. The shoulder straps 69are detachably provided at two sides of the open frame 61. When thechest and back developer grip unit 60 detached from the machine base 20for independent use, the user can carry the chest and back developergrip unit 60 on the back with the shoulder straps 69 fastened to theshoulders and the cushion 66 of the chest and back developer grip unit60 supported on the back (see FIG. 11).

The two elastic cord members 70 each have a hook 71 at one end forhooking on the front side of the machine base 20 (see FIG. 7) or therear side of the machine base 20 (see FIG. 8), and a grip 72 at theother end for the holding of the hand.

The multipurpose exercising machine can be operated to exercise themuscles of different parts of the body as follows:

1. Pedaling exercise (see FIGS. 7 and 8): When sitting on the seat pad30, rest the back on the back pad 40 after the back pad 40 has beenadjusted to the desired elevation, or on the cushion 66 of the chest andback developer grip unit 60 as desired after the chest and backdeveloper grip unit 60 has been installed in the mounting tube 23 andadjusted to the desired elevation, and then pedal the pedals 51 of thepedal unit 50.

2. Arm and chest exercise: When sitting on the seat pad, rest the backon the back pad 40 after the back pad 40 has been adjusted to thedesired elevation, or on the cushion 66 of the chest and back developergrip unit 60 as desired after the chest and back developer grip unit 60has been installed in the mounting tube 23 and adjusted to the desiredelevation, and then hook the hooks 71 of the elastic cord members 70 onthe back side of the machine base 20 (see FIG. 8) or the front side ofthe machine base 20 (see FIG. 7), and then lift the grips 72 with thehands (see FIG. 7) or push the grips 73 alternatively obliquely forwardsand backwards with the hands (see FIG. 8).

3. Front-bend (see FIG. 9): Detach the chest and back developer gripunit 60 from the machine base 20, and then adjust the connection betweenthe supporting bar 41 and the locating pins 27 to further adjust theangular position of the back pad 40, and then lie the body on the seatpad 30 and the back pad 40, and then hook the feet on the leg extensionbar 22 of the machine base 20, and then bend the trunk of the body toexercise the muscles of the abdomen.

4. Chest and back exercise (see FIGS. 10 and 11): Insert the mountingbar 62 of the chest and back developer grip unit 60 to the mounting tube25 of the base frame 20 and then adjust the distance between the chestand back developer grip unit 60 and the base frame 20 by means of themounting holes 67 (see FIG. 10). If desired, directly carry the chestand back developer grip unit 60 on the back and fasten the shoulderstraps 69 to the shoulders (see FIG. 11). When exercising, lock theoperation handles 64 to the desired position, and then alternativelypush and pull the operation handles 64. When the operation handles 64set in the vertical position (see FIGS. 5 and 10), synchronously oralternatively pull and push the operation handles 64 in verticaldirection. When the operation handles 64 set in the horizontal position(see FIGS. 6 and 11), synchronously or alternatively pull and push theoperation handles 64 in horizontal direction. The number of theelastomeric members 65 may be increased so as to relatively increasedamping resistance and exercising intensity.

As indicated above, the multipurpose exercising machine can be operatedin either of the aforesaid four operation modes to exercise the musclesof the arms, abdomen and legs. Alternatively, the user cansimultaneously perform two of the four operation modes, for example,Pedaling exercise plus Chest and back exercise, or Pedaling exerciseplus Arm and chest exercise. Further, the user can also carry andoperate the chest and back developer grip unit 60 while walking. Ingeneral, the multipurpose exercising apparatus provides multipleoperation options for choice to exercise the muscles of different partsof the body.

The invention may be variously embodied. FIG. 12 shows a multipurposeexercising apparatus according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention. According to this embodiment, the multipurpose exercisingapparatus 80 comprises a machine base 81, which has a front legextension bar 86 and a rear adjustment rack 82, a seat pad 83 providedat the top side of the machine base 81, a back pad 84 pivoted to themachine base 81 behind the seat pad 83, the back pad 84 having a pivotedsupporting bar 85 adapted to support the back pad 84 on the adjustmentrack 82 in one of a series of elevational positions, a chest and backdeveloper grip unit 90, and two elastic cord members 95. The chest andback developer grip unit 90 is comprised of an open frame 91, two swivelconnectors 92, two operation handles 93, and at least two elastomericmembers 94. The open frame 91 is detachably mounted on the machine base81 behind the seat pad 83. The elastic cord members 95 each have one endrespectively fastened to the machine base 81 and the other end providedwith a grip 96. This embodiment allows the user to perform the operationmodes of Arm and chest exercise, Front-bend, and Chest and back exerciseto exercise the muscles of the abdomen and the arms.

FIG. 13 shows a multipurpose exercising machine according to the thirdembodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, themultipurpose exercising machine 100 comprises a machine base 110, a seatpad 111 provided at the top side of the machine base 110, a pedal unit112 provided at the front side of the machine base 110, a chest and backdeveloper grip unit 113 provided behind the seat pad 111, and twoelastic cord members 114 fastened to the machine base 110 at two sides.This embodiment allows the user to perform the operation modes of Pedalexercise, Arm and chest exercise, and Chest and back exercise toexercise the muscles of the arms and the legs.

1. A multipurpose exercising machine comprising: a machine basehorizontally positioned on a floor; a seat pad mounted on said machinebase for sitting by a user; and a chest and back developer grip unithaving a frame detachably mounted on said machine base behind said seatpad, two swivel connectors respectively pivoted to said frame at twosides and selectively set between a first position and a secondposition, two operation handles respectively pivoted to said swivelconnectors, said operation handles being moved to a vertical positionwhen said swivel connectors set in said first position, said operationhandles being moved to a horizontal position when said swivel connectorsset in said second position, and a plurality of elastomeric memberssymmetrically bilaterally connected between said handles and said frame.2. The multipurpose exercising machine as claimed in claim 1 furthercomprising a back pad pivoted to said machine base behind said seat padfor supporting the user's back, said back pad being forwardly backwardlyturnable relative to said machine base and positionable at apredetermined angle.
 3. The multipurpose exercising machine as claimedin claim 2, wherein said machine base comprises a plurality of locatingpins disposed at different elevations below said back pad; said back padcomprises a supporting bar for selectively supporting on one of saidlocating pins, said supporting bar having one end pivoted to a back sidethereof and an opposite end provided with a locating hole for receivingone of said locating pins.
 4. The multipurpose exercising machine asclaimed in claim 1 further comprising a pedal unit mounted on saidmachine base in front of said seat pad, said pedal unit having twopedals for pedaling by the user.
 5. The multipurpose exercising machineas claimed in claim 4, wherein said machine base comprises a retractablerack disposed in front of said seat pad; said pedal unit is mounted onsaid retractable rack and horizontally movable with said retractablerack relative to said seat pad.
 6. The multipurpose exercising machineas claimed in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of elastic cordmembers each having one end fastened to said machine base and anopposite end terminating in a grip for the gripping of the user's hand.7. The multipurpose exercising machine as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid machine base comprises a mounting tube vertically disposed behindsaid seat pad; said chest and back developer grip unit comprises amounting bar downwardly extended from a bottom side thereof andvertically slidably inserted into said mounting tube.
 8. Themultipurpose exercising machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidchest and back developer grip unit further comprises two shoulder strapsfor fastening to the user's shoulders.
 9. A multipurpose exercisingmachine comprising: a machine base; a seat pad mounted on said machinebase, and a chest and back developer grip unit having a frame detachablymounted on said machine base, two swivel connectors respectively pivotedto said frame at two sides and selectively set between a first positionand a second position, two operation handles respectively pivoted tosaid swivel connectors, said operation handles being moved to a verticalposition when said swivel connectors set in said first position, saidoperation handles being moved to a horizontal position when said swivelconnectors set in said second position, a plurality of elastomericmembers respectively connected between said handles and said frame, andtwo shoulder straps respectively provided at said frame.